Dems May Tack Mueller Protection Onto Must-Pass Year-End Spending Bill

[DonViejo]

Source: Talking Points Memo



By Nicole Lafond

November 9, 2018 9:06 am

House Democrats held a conference call on Thursday afternoon to discuss ways they could protect special counsel Robert Mueller’s probe if the new acting attorney general tries to hamper the investigation, as many have speculated.

According to a participating lawmaker who spoke to the New York Times, the call was led by House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), as well as other senior House Democrats: Reps. Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), Adam Schiff (D-CA) and Elijah Cummings (D-MD).

In the call, Democrats mulled crafting a resolution that could shield Mueller’s probe and also considered tacking language that would protect the probe onto the coming spending bill that Congress must pass before the end of the year, according to the Times.

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Read more: https://talkingpointsmemo.com/news/dems-may-tack-mueller-protection-spending-bill

[greymattermom]

1. So the Republicans would have to shut down the government if they want to get rid of Mueller?

WOW. Dems have plans. If this is what I think it is, I love it.

[lark]

2. They need to immediately file suit over Whitaker.

That would protect Mueller far more than any bill would because the Senate will not agree, McConnell wouldn't even let it come to a vote.

[dlk]

3. Why Not Take a Multi-Faceted Approach to Protecting the Mueller Investigation?

Add protection for Mueller's investigation to the spending bill and file suit against Whitaker; do whatever it takes!

[SunSeeker]

5. Yep. Do it ALL.

Our democracy is at stake.

[iluvtennis]

7. Ditto

[pazzyanne]

8. Me too.

[BumRushDaShow]

11. They probably will. nt

[Bayard]

4. Any judge that can read the Constitution

Should push Whittaker out of that position post haste. It requires he be confirmed by the Senate. Of course, I wouldn't be surprised if they tried to shove that through quickly. Anyone know what kind of majority they would need to do so?

[ffr]

6. Get it done. n/t

[lagomorph777]

9. +1

[TryLogic]

10. What am I missing?

How could the Dems tack on something. They do not have a majority. Could they get any Republicans to vote with them?

[BumRushDaShow]

12. In order to pass another CR to keep the government open

the GOP is going to need enough votes to invoke cloture (60 votes) in the Senate, so in this case, what the Senate might do will impact what the House may need to provide to have a successful Continuing Resolution. I.e. Democrats can gum up the works for the CR (without such a provision) much easier in the Senate than the House.

I expect that right now, Turtle's tiny brain is churning trying to figure out how to work this - especially given his insistence that Mueller was going nowhere, after which we watched Sessions booted, making it easier for Mueller to be removed.